Gaynor Clarke

A musician who had a double lung transplant has produced a compilation album to raise awareness of cystic fibrosis.

Dane Pollard, 36, was diagnosed with the condition as a baby and deteriorated to the point where he had just weeks to live.

But in August 2008 he received a life-saving double lung transplant.

Now, Dane is using music to raise money and awareness of cystic fibrosis and organ donation.

He has produced a compilation album named Courage Over Fear, with songs by people who have the condition or know someone who does.

It is part of Lungfest, an initiative launched by Dane which has seen fund-raising gigs held around the country.

Dane Pollard

Among the 11 tracks is Thank You, a song he wrote as a tribute to his lung donor.

Dane, of Mayfield Road, Chorley, said: “We felt that the title of this album was important. It really had to mean something. Anyone with a connection to the CF community has seen at first-hand the daily struggle to maintain good health faced by people with the disease.

“Most of us take our good health for granted, but if you have a family member or a friend with CF and you witness what they have to do to basically stay alive, I don’t think you ever take your health for granted again.

“When anyone is ill they have fears about what might happen. To have to face those fears every day of your life – in many cases with your health worsening with each passing year – now that takes courage.”

Dane’s album was also inspired by the Strawfie Challenge, where people share a “selfie” of them breathing through a straw while pinching their nose, simulating the reduced lung function of people with cystic fibrosis.